Fove VR headset features infrared eye tracking, could be a game-changer

The anticipation for upcoming virtual reality products from companies like Oculus VR and HTC has reached a fever pitch. The one thing that these two frontrunners are missing is eye tracking, a feature that Fove hopes will make its virtual reality headset stand out among the growing crowd of contenders.

Immersion is the name of the game when it comes to VR and Fove believes its infrared eye tracking technology will further enhance the experience and provide a wealth of useful abilities not possible with other headsets.

Specifically, the headset will allow users to aim with their eyes, make eye contact with virtual characters just like in the real world and provide unprecedented depth of field – again, just like in the real world.

An added benefit of using eye tracking technology is that it allows the graphics engine to adjust focus and allocate rendering resources accordingly. This means the system won’t be wasting processing power to render something you aren’t actively looking at which could translate into lax hardware requirements.

Fove also promises wearers won’t suffer as badly from nausea often associated with wearing a virtual reality headset.

Fove is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter. With 45 days remaining and more than $120,000 of its $250,000 goal realized, Fove looks as if it could give the industry’s top players some serious competition. A pledge of $349 will guarantee you a headset and development kit come May 2016.